Description
Banana walnut cake brings classic comfort with delightful layers of sweet nostalgia. Creamy vanilla notes and crunchy walnuts meld perfectly, offering you a slice of pure homemade happiness.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base Ingredients:
- 2 ½ cups (600 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (227 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups (300 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240 ml) mashed ripe bananas
- 1 cup (120 grams) chopped walnuts
Leavening and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Liquid and Binding Ingredients:
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup (120 ml) whole milk
- 8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup (114 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 3 cups (360 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (30 grams) chopped walnuts (for garnish)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350F (175C) and thoroughly coat a rectangular or two circular baking vessels with butter and flour to prevent sticking.
- Sift the flour, raising agents, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl, ensuring a uniform texture and eliminating potential lumps.
- Using an electric mixer, whip butter and sugar until the mixture becomes pale and aerated, creating a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Introduce eggs individually into the butter mixture, blending thoroughly after each addition, then incorporate vanilla extract for enhanced flavor complexity.
- Mash ripe bananas until smooth and fold them into the butter mixture, creating a rich, fragrant base with gentle stirring motions.
- Gradually integrate the dry ingredient blend into the wet ingredients, alternating with milk to maintain a silky batter texture. Mix minimally to prevent toughening the cake’s crumb.
- Delicately fold chopped walnuts throughout the batter, distributing them evenly to ensure a consistent nutty flavor in every slice.
- Transfer the batter into prepared baking pan(s), smoothing the surface with a spatula to create an even layer.
- Bake for approximately 30-35 minutes in a rectangular pan or 25-30 minutes in round pans, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick that should emerge clean and dry.
- Allow the cake to cool completely at room temperature before applying frosting or serving, enabling the texture to set perfectly.
Notes
- Overripe bananas create the most intense, sweet flavor and ensure maximum moisture in your cake.
- Toast walnuts beforehand to enhance their nutty essence and prevent them from sinking to the bottom during baking.
- Substitute whole wheat flour for half the all-purpose flour to boost nutritional value without compromising texture.
- For a gluten-free version, use a reliable gluten-free flour blend and add an extra egg to improve binding and structure.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 36 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg